The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 236: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FAMILY VAULT 205 her looks, her style of dress, her manner, and her speech all seemed to denote a sedateness without hypocrisy, and a deep sense of religious feeling without fanaticism. The footman was a tall, handsome man, with a dark com- plexion and a serious look. He was about forty years of age; his figure was finely modelled, the stalwart proportions being blended with masculine grace; and his demeanour was altogether superior to his situation. He seemed older than he really was on account of the air of extreme steadiness which characterized him, and which was the dominant 1m- pression that his appearance made upon the mind of any one who saw him for the first time, so that it was necessary to look as it were beneath that aspect of sedateness to dis- cover that he was in reality a very handsome man. In a word, judging from their external appearances, the female attendant and the footman were two domestics of the most respectable class, and precisely such as a widow lady of excellent reputation might be expected to have in her suite. We said that the Marchioness of Bellenden, soon after Mr. Roberts had quitted her, summoned those two depend- ents to her presence; and perhaps the reader will expect to be informed that on entering the room they still retained all the cold reserve of manner and ceremonial rigidity of counte- nance which invested them with so decorous an air of sedate- ness. No such thing. The instant the door closed behind them, their appearance changed as if by magic; the matronly demeanour which was so imposing on the part of the female, and the serious look which gave such an air of respecta- bility to the man, were thrown off all in a moment, and with an evident feeling of relief at passing from a condition of studied restraint to the relaxation and abandonment of temporary freedom. ‘What news, my dear?’’ demanded the female, with a mingled curiosity and friendly interest in her voice and manner; and she took a chair without waiting for either invitation or permission to be seated. “ Yes, what news, Laura? ” inquired the footman, flinging himself upon the sofa, stretching out his legs, and passing his fingers through his wavy and perfumed hair. ‘‘ Has Parson Roberts been able to give you any particulars in addition to what you already knew? ”’ GomiilGaooks (©)